$1 Million Raised to Help Adults with Disabilities

ECLC of New Jersey has more than a million reasons to celebrate the New Year! With an outpouring of year-end donations in December, ECLC reached -- and exceeded -- $1 million to fund the P.R.I.D.E. Program for adults with disabilities.

This big milestone was achieved thanks to donations from families, Board members, staff, the community and a $50,000 matching grant from billionaires Toby and Leon Cooperman.

The Endowment was established in December 2014 to provide long-term support for the P.R.I.D.E. program, which serves graduates of ECLC’s special-education schools in Chatham and Ho-Ho-Kus. The Coopermans pledged a $250,000 matching grant over five years, which ends in 2019. The cause is close to the family. Toby Cooperman was a Learning Disability Teaching Consultant at the ECLC school in Chatham for 25 years and now serves on the Board of Trustees.

The Endowment will ensure P.R.I.D.E. can keep its doors open for many years to come. Without P.R.I.D.E., these adults with disabilities, who are not able to work, would have few options.

“We're thrilled at our success in just two years of the campaign!” said ECLC Executive Director, Bruce Litinger. “Now, we have to keep the momentum going. Our goal is to ensure that P.R.I.D.E. will stay open and offer a nurturing, safe place for our graduates to thrive.”

ECLC has been a pioneer in special-education and providing services to adults with disabilities since its founding in 1970. The Endowment will:

• Supplement day-to-day operating costs
• Provide start-up costs for new centers
• Purchase equipment, such as vans, computers and more
• Allow for the program to run all year long
• Give emergency funding for compassionate reasons related to client and family aging issues

While government funding is going down, demand for placement in the P.R.I.D.E. program continues to go up. Already, P.R.I.D.E. has expanded into two locations — Florham Park and Paramus — serving more than 160 clients. As more students graduate and enroll in the program, ECLC faces a challenge to keep up with the demand.

"The P.R.I.D.E. program is so critical to our families,” said Litinger. “The Endowment will be the gift that keeps on giving for years to come, allowing us to maintain a high-quality program with full-time staff.”

Learn how to support P.R.I.D.E.

About ECLC

ECLC is an accredited, nonprofit and serves children and adults diagnosed with autism, Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities. ECLC operates schools in Chatham and Ho-Ho-Kus, educating nearly 300 students, and offers adult programs and services.

All students graduate from ECLC with a clear plan for their future. ECLC offers employment services through an affiliate, Community Personnel Services. Specialists from CPS help adults with disabilities find meaningful jobs in their communities and provide ongoing support and advocacy in the workplace.

ECLC also offers enrollment in the P.R.I.D.E. Adult Program for graduates who are not able to work. At P.R.I.D.E., clients choose their daily activities – from book club and cooking to arts and crafts and fitness. Plus, they get a chance to go into the community for volunteering, lunch, and more. Learn more about ECLC.

ECLC is a member of the Alliance of Private Special Education Schools of North Jersey, a coalition of more than 30 state-approved private special education schools dedicated to helping parents and educators better understand and access appropriate program options. Learn more about the Alliance.